Improvement in devices for lubricating railway journals



" CHARLES wQHARvEY. Y 2'SheetS"S-" improvement inDev'i-ces forLubricating Railway Journals. y

` CHARLES w. HARVEY. zsreefs'hm A1lrnptrnvemient in Devices forLubricating Railway Journals. 119,087.V i j 'l Patented Sap.L 19, 1871.

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CHARLES W. HARVEY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

i IMPROVEMENT I N DEVICES FOR LUBRICATING RAILWAY JOURNALS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 119,087, datedSeptember 19, 1871.

`To all 'whom it may concern;4 l

` l loss of the oil through the openings and joints of the axle-box.

My invention consists: First, in the combination and arrangement,transversely with the journal and axle-box of a railroad truck, of aseries `of two or more oil-feeding devices, composed of a piece of feltsliding` in aperforat-` ed case, and pressed by a spring against the journal so as to be'self-adjusting in feeding the oil from the bottom ofthe box to the latter. Second, in providing each piece of felt of thelubricating device`with two partially-detached wings, which will remainin contact with'the oil and form j, a conductor for the same to the mainbody of the felt as the latter recedes from the oil in adjusting itselflto the journal. Third, in the combination and arrangement, with theaxle-box, journal, and one ormore of the oil-feeding devices abovementioned, of blocks of felt arranged on the bottom of the box, andbetween the oil-feeding devices, so as to hold the same in place toabsorb the oil and prevent swashingout of the same. Fourth, in arranginga series of felt liibricating devices and intermediate blocks on a cordfor the purposeof facilitating the arrange ment of said devices in theaxle-box and their withdrawal therefrom. Fifth, in providing the I caseof the foremost oil-feeding device with two arms or braces pivoted toits sides, so that said arms when swung down will bear against the frontof the axle-box andprevent longitudinal displacement of the lubricatingapparatus. Sixth, in the combination, with the felt of the oil-feedingdevice hereinbefore mentioned, of a similarlyformed plate of metal orother hard material se- .cured to the side thereof so as to form a guardto retain the felt in proper position under the journal and reducetheoil-conducting capacity of the piece of felt and prevent theexcessive wear ofits lubricating-surface. Seventh, in the `arrangementinthe partition or partitions near the rear of the axle-box, of anopening or slot slightly above the level of the oil, so'as to allow theoil which may have worked behind said partitions to flow back into theaxle-box.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure I is a sectional elevation of anaxle-box provided with my improvements. Fig. II is a sectionalelevation, showing a modied arrangement of my improved lubricatingdevice. Fig. III is a vertical cross-section on line w rv, Fig. I. Fig.IV is a i plan view of the lubricating device. Fig. Vis a detached viewof a piece of felt arranged in its case. Fig. VI is a vertical sectionof an oil-feeding device, showing the attachment of a metallic plate tothe felt.

, Like letters designate like parts in each of the iigures.

A represents the axle; B, the journal 5 C, the housing; D, the coverthereof; E, the bearing metal., F, the partition near the rear end 0fthe axle-box; and F', Fig. II, a higher partition, as arranged in somekinds of axle-,boxes for the purpose of raising the level of the oil.All. of these parts are old and well known. G represents the pieces offelt, notched at the top soas to conform to the shape of the journal,and arranged upright in perforated cases H, made of tin or othersuitable material. They are pressed against the journal by springs I, ofelliptical or other suitable shape, arranged in the bottom of the casesH. rlhe felt Gr is guided by the case H in its vertical movement as itadjusts itself to the journal, which latter recedes from the bottom ofthe axle-box as the bearing metal wears out.

g represent two wings of felt, formed by partially severing portionsfrom the lower end of each piece G, preferably in such manner that theouter end g of each wing will be wider than lthe inner portion. The endsg of these wings, when saturated with oil, will hang down and rest onthe spring I, remaining in contact with the oil so as to conduct thelatter to the main body of the felt, which, as the journal changes itsposition, is sometimes elevated by the spring away from contact with thebottom of the axle-box and oil therein. Each piece of felt G, incombination with its spring and perforated case, constitutes a completelubricating device. The number of such devices which is required in oneaxle-box depends upon the speed of the axle and other circumstances, andcannot be generally stated.

To insure a perfect lubrication of the journal the enses H are notrequired to be arranged close together, but a greater or lesser space isleft between them, in which may be arranged blocks of felt J, made ofsufficient height to retain the lubricating cases in their properupright and relative position without coming in contact with thejournal. rlhese blocks may be protected against undue compression byperforated cases i inclosing each block, or they may be provided withstay-pieces j made of tin or other thin metal, as shown in Fig. IV. K isthe cord attached to the innermost block or section of the lubricatingdevice. It runs horizontally through all the blocks J and oil-feedingdevices G. The openings in the blocks J through which the said cordpasses are slotted, as shown at k, to allow the pieces G free verticalmovement. L represents two arms pivoted to the sides of the case H ofthe foremost oil-feeding device.

My improved lubricating device is arranged and operates in the axle-boxin the following manner: The block J, with the cord K attached, is firstintroduced under the journal. The rst oil-feeding device is then slippedon the cord K,

. passed under the collar of the journal in an inclined position,straightened up, and pushed against the block J. The other blocks andoilfeeding devices are then slipped on the cord and arranged in place intheir order. When the last section. is in place the cord is tightenedand the arms L swung down so as to bea-r against the front of theaxle-box, as shown in Fig. I. The end of the coil is loosely coiled upbetween the arms L so as to be ready for use when the lubricatiu gdevice is required to be taken out, which is readily accomplished bydrawing on the cord. The quantity of oil necessary for lubricating thejournal is filled in the axle-box, the greater portion of which isabsorbed by the pieces of felt G and blocks J, leaving only a thinstratum of oil on the bottom of the box. The swashing of the oil socommon with the lubricating devices now in use, and whereby aconsiderable quantity of the oil is lost, is in this manner effectuallyprevented. Ihe oil is fed to the journal by the pieces G gradually. Thelatter are kept in close contact with the journal by the springs I, andalways touch the oil with the wings g g, so that an unbrokencommunication between the oil and the journal is insured in allpositions of the latter. The blocks J serve as reservoirs for the piecesG, and deliver the oil absorbed by them to the pieces G as the latterbecome dry. My improved lubricating device has, furthermore, theadvantage that it can be arranged in the axle-box or removed therefromwithout withdrawing the axle.

0 in Fig. VI represents a piece of metal or other hard material securedto the upper portion of the piece of felt G on its side by rivets 0 orotherwise. Both the plate O and piece G are cut out so as to conform tothe shape of the journal, against which they are pressed by the springI. The object of the plate O is to reduce the oilfeeding capacity of thepiece of felt G without impairing its stifiess, and at the same timeprotect the upper edge thereof against wear. M is the piece of feltarranged between the partitions F and F', as shown in Fig. II. It ispressed against the journal by a spring, m, and serves to exclude dustand prevent the oil from working along the journal and axle and out ofthe axleboX. A similar piece of felt, M', and spring m may be arrangedbetween the partition F and the rear of the axlebox for the samepurpose. fis the slot or opening arranged in the partition F, slightlyabove thelevel ofthe oil; and f' the l slot arranged in the partition Fat about the same height. 'Ihe oil which may work along the journalaccumulates in the spaces behind the 4partitions F and F until it risesto the height of the slots j' andf, when it overflows and returns to themain body of the oil in the axle-box. The oil is in this mannerprevented from escaping through the opening in the rear of the latter.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination and arrangement, with thejournal and axle-box of a railroad truck, of a series of lubricatingdevices, reach consisting ofthe felt G, spring I, and case H,substantially as described.

2. The partially-detached portions or wings g of the felt G, arrangedsubstantially as described.

3. The arrangement, in an axle-box and with the oil-feeding devices G IH, of the blocks of felt J, substantially as herenbefore set forth.

4. The combination and arrangement, with a series of oil-feeding devicesG I H, with or without the blocks J, of the cord K, substantially asdescribed.

5. The arrangement, in an axle-box and with the oil-feeding device G IH, of the pivoted arms L, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

6. The guard-plate O secured to the felt G of the oil-feeding device,substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

7 The partitions F and F', provided with openings f and f', arrangedsubstantially as shown and described.

C. W. HARVEY.

Witnesses:

EDWARD WHJHELM, J No. J. BoNNnR.

